INBOX:If we are serious about children getting up to speed with technology to further their prospects, we need to start getting that technology into their hands early.

I'm not talking about games machines. Assuming you're not shouting at them, these are passive, uncreative devices. You don't create a game on the XBox or PlayStation, you play it. But you can create a game, or a song, or write a novel on a computer.

Unfortunately, most computers are not the kind of thing you just hand over to a child. They are expensive, complex machines with delicate hard drives and screens that don't react well to sticky fingers. However, laptop computers are about to head towards the developing world, where we can be sure they will be welcomed with open arms. The US-based One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) scheme, although plagued with manufacturing problems, is now poised to roll out a laptop that runs on less than two watts of power (for places where electricity is scare), giving it a battery life of an astounding 21 hours. OLPCs will be distributed to poor children in America through state-wide partnerships.

Not to be outdone, Intel recently came out with its Classmate PC, an affordable mobile PC device initially designed for use in schools. The budget notebook costs about $300 (€205), runs an Intel chip, wi-fi and a Windows or Linux operating system. About 2,000 were given to schools in the Philippines recently, while a similar number went to schools in Russia and Kazakhstan. A drop in the ocean for now, but the beginning of a flood.

Also in the US, the Everex Cloudbook has appeared, costing €270 through Wal-Mart, running Ubuntu, a user-friendly version of Linux. The Cloudbook has 30GB of storage and a video out port.

Meanwhile, UK PC-maker Elonex is launching a Linux-based laptop with a three-hour battery life, wi-fi, and a flash-based hard drive, which will cost about €130.

Elonex is aiming the PC at the mass market and especially parents who want their kids to have a laptop they can use for school.

A UK-based education technology supplier is marketing its version of the popular Asus Eee PC (up to €329.38 via Expansys.ie), renamed the RM Minibook. The Minibook (pictured left) is VAT-free to schools and each laptop comes in at €223, a lot less than the average Windows laptop because it runs the free Linus operating system. RM sold out its first order of 6,000 within weeks, and is now projecting school sales of 30,000 by the end of the year.

Part of the attraction of these machines is that they are small and considered "cute" by kids. They also tend to come with educational games for basic maths and literacy. With a web browser (which can be set up to protect kids from harmful content), simple word processing and e-mail applications, kids can achieve a lot on them, though the memory is usually too small for loading games. The smaller form means the laptop is the size of a book, fooling potential muggers.

So, what we must ask ourselves is this: do we want kids to access technology just for entertainment, or can we put into their hands the mean to create, learn and benefit? I know what I'd do if I was a parent in Africa right now.